Portable elevator apparatus

ABSTRACT

Portable elevator apparatus for moving television receivers and like articles from one location to another, and for placing such articles upon and removing the same from an elevated support shelf therefor. The apparatus includes a wheel-equipped base enabling the apparatus to be moved from one location to another, and it further includes a vertically extending standard supported by the base. Mounted upon the standard for reciprocable displacements with respect thereto between lowermost positions generally adjacent the base and elevated positions spaced upwardly therefrom are a pair of platforms that are disposed along opposite sides of the standard in reversely oriented relation, each of which is adapted to support thereon a television receiver or the like. A winch mechanism, selectively connectable with one or the other of the platforms, is effectively operative between the base and any particular platform to which it is connected to displace the latter upwardly from the lowermost position thereof into selected elevated positions so that such television receiver can be placed upon or removed from a support shelf. Safety brake mechanism is included in the apparatus to constrain the platform at any elevation should the mechanism fail.

United States Patent n 1 Lucasey et a].

[ PORTABLE ELEVATOR APPARATUS [75] inventors: Joseph A. Lucasey, Alameda;

William L. Boscacci, Oakland. both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Lucasey Manufacturing Corporation, Oakland. Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 306,627

[52] US. Cl 187/11; 187/87 [51] Int. Cl 866!) 9/20; B66b 5/16 [58] Field of Search l87/ll, 9, l0, l7, l3, 187/20, 27, 87; 2l4/l R, 38 C, 38 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 495,164 4/l893 Bessing et al. 187/11 597,205 1/1898 Rue ct al. 187/17 X 1.170263 2/1916 Houseknecht..... 187/13 1,813.595 7/1931 Abbe 187/1! 2.857385 10/1958 Simmons, Sr. 187/9 2.894.605 7/1959 Leavitt 187/31 3385.40] 5/1968 Campbell et a1. l87/ll 3.563341 2/1971 Bultman 187/9 3.780.880 12/1973 214/1 R Primary E,raminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant E.raminerHadd Lane Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph B. Gardner; Theodore Bielen, Jr.; Richard Esty Peterson June 24, 1975 l 5 7 1 ABSTRACT Portable elevator apparatus for moving television receivers and like articles from one location to another and for placing such articles upon and removing the same from an elevated support shelf therefor. The apparatus includes a wheel-equipped base enabling the apparatus to be moved from one location to another. and it further includes a vertically extending standard supported by the base. Mounted upon the standard for reciprocable displacements with respect thereto between lowermost positions generally adjacent the base and elevated positions spaced upwardly therefrom are a pair of platforms that are disposed along opposite sides of the standard in reversely oriented relation. each of which is adapted to support thereon a television receiver or the like. A winch mechanism. selectively connectable with one or the other of the platfonns, is effectively operative between the base and any particular platform to which it is connected to dis place the latter upwardly from the lowermost position thereof into selected elevated positions so that such television receiver can be placed upon or removed from a support shelf. Safety brake mechanism is included in the apparatus to constrain the platform at any elevation should the mechanism fail.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU Jun 24 I975 3. 8 91, O 6 3 SHEET 1 PATENTED JUN 2 4 ms SHEET PORTABLE ELEVATOR APPARATUS This invention relates to portable elevator apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for moving relatively heavy articles such as a television receiver or the like from one location to another and for raising and lowering the same so as to place such receiver upon and remove it from an elevated support shelf therefor.

There are many relatively heavy articles that are necessarily moved or transported from one location to another and which, at any such location, must be lifted to place them upon an elevated support therefor and, at times, removed from such support. An illustrative instance thereof are television receivers such as those used at hospitals and similar institutions which are placed within and removed from the rooms of patients in accordance with their needs and desires. For example, in many hospitals a television receiver can be provided in a patients room if the patient chooses to rent the receiver and, accordingly, it is necessary to transport the receiver to the room and place the same upon a support therefor when a particular patient orders the receiver, and to remove the receiver when the rental period has expired. Since the amount of space available in a hospital room is very restricted, it is guite common today to provide an elevated support shelf at a height of 5 or more feet along a vertical wall of such room upon which a television receiver can be placed so as not to obstruct the room for the ordinary needs of personnel in and about the same. Since television receivers are very heavy, especially color television receivers. it is both difficult and dangerous to lift receivers manually onto such shelves and to remove receivers therefrom, and then requiring the services of two or more persons.

Objects, among others, of the present invention are to provide improved apparatus for transporting heavy articles such as television receivers and the like from one location to another, and for raising and lowering such articles so as to place the same upon an elevated support therefor and remove such articles therefrom; to provide improved portable elevator apparatus of the character described which is able to accommodate at least two such articles at the same time for transport, and is also able to accommodate removal of one such article from an elevated support shelf and then replace the removed article with another without first having to be returned to a supply station to exchange the removed article for another; to provide apparatus of the type described having a wheel-equipped base enabling the apparatus to be manually moved from one location to another while supporting one or more relatively heavy articles; also to provide apparatus of the improved type described that has a pair of articlesupporting platforms each reciprocable in generally vertical directions between raised and lower positions, and in which mechanism is included in the apparatus and is effectively operative, selectively, between one or the other of the reciprocable platforms and the base so as to displace such platforms between the raised and lower positions thereof; and further to provide improved apparatus having a safety brake mechanism incorporated therein to protect the same should there be a failure in the mechanism effective to raise and lower the platforms.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially as concerns particular features and charac Ill tcristics thereof, will become apparent as the specification continues.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of the apparatus:

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGv 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of portable elevator apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a broken transverse sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, the view being taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus generally illustrating the brake mechanism, the view being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a broken transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

The portable elevator apparatus shown in the drawing, includes a base 10 adapted to be moved from one location to another, thereby carrying with it other components of the apparatus and any article or articles supported thereby. In more particular reference, the base 10 includes a pair of transversely spaced rails II and 12 rigidly interconnected one with another by a plurality of laterally spaced struts 14 and IS. The base 10 is equipped with a plurality of rollers that may take any convenient form including wheels, casters, universaltype chair rollers, etc.. and in the form shown the base is provided with rollers I6 adjacent the outer end portions of the rails 11 and 12. The particular apparatus shown is intended to be manually pushed or pulled from one location to another, and the rollers 16 provide adequate support to enable the apparatus to traverse relatively uniform surfaces such as hospital and other institutional flooring, sidewalks, improved roadbeds, etc, The rails II and 12 and struts I4 and I5 may be steel or other metal channels welded to each other to rigidify the base.

Fixed to the base I0 and extending upwardly therefrom in a generally vertical orientation is a standard I7. As shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, the standard 17 includes two oppositely facing sets of transversely spaced uprights, such sets respectively comprising uprights 18,19 and 20,21 each in the form of a generally U- shaped channel when viewed in cross section. The uprights 18 and 20 are disposed in oppositely facing relation in back-to-back juxtaposition, and they are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to each other. Similarly, the uprights l9 and 21 are disposed in oppositely facing back-to-back juxtaposition and are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to each other. The standard 17 is centrally disposed with respect to the base 10 and is rigidly related thereto as, for example, by mounting the uprights l8 and 20 upon the rail I1 and the uprights I9 and 21 upon the rail 12, and then welding or otherwise fixedly securing the uprights 18,20 and 19,21 to their respectively associated rails II and 12. A plurality of gusset plates 22 and 24 (as shown best in FIG. 2) may be provided in association with the various uprights and rails to further stablilize and rigidify the standard 17 with respect to the base 10.

Supported by the standard 17 for reciprocable displacements therealong between lowermost positions generally adjacent the base 10 and elevated positions spaced upwardly therefrom are a plurality of platform components generally denoted with the numerals 25 and 26, there being two such platform components in the specific elevator apparatus being considered. The platform components 25 and 26 are supported along opposite sides of the standard 17. as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, and they respectively include a pair of transversely spaced columns 27.28 and 29.30 re spectively aligned with the uprights 18.19 and 20.21 of the standard 17 in substantially contiguous relation therewith. The respective columns of the platform components 25 and 26 are rigidly interconnected by means of transversely extending. vertically spaced beams 31 and 32. in the case of the platform compo nent 25. and 34 and 35, in the case of the platform component 26.

The platform components 25 and 26 further include. respectively, transversely spaced brackets 36.37 and 38.39 that project laterally or outwardly from the standard 17 in opposite directions along the opposite sides thereof. and are shown most clearly in FlG. 2. In more particular terms. each of the platform brackets is generally L-shaped and is oriented so that one leg thereof extends downwardly along the associated column (27 through 30. as the case may be) and is welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto. and the other such leg is horizontally disposed so as to receive thereon a relatively heavy article such as the television receivers 40 and 41 shown in H6. 3. Each of the brackets is strengthened and rigidified with respect to the columns to which it is secured by bracing. as indicated at 42 and 44 in respective association with the brackets 37 and 39 illustrated in FIG. 2. The spacing between the brackets of each platform component is sufficient to enable the same to straddle and thereby receive therebetwcen a support or shelf 45 which is horizontally dis posed and projects outwardly from a vertical side wall 46 of a room spaced at an elevated location with respect to the floor level which is generally denoted with the numeral 47 in FIG. 2.

The portable elevator apparatus further includes mechanism effectively operative between the base and platforms or platform components 25 and 26 for selectively displacing the latter upwardly from the lowermost positions thereof generally adjacent the base 10. as shown in full lines by the brackets 39 in FIG. 2. into selected elevated positions for placing an article 40 upon or for removing it from a support shelf 45, as shown by the bracket 37 in this same figure. in the form shown. the mechanism employed to effect such rcciprocable displacements of the platform components is a winch mechanism generally denoted with the numeral 48. The mechanism 48 is supported at a location slightly above the base 10 by an upright or standard 49 having a generally vertical orientation that is fixedly secured to a transverse support or beam 50 that is rigidly affixed to the rails 11 and 12 of the base 10 and substantially parallels the aforementioned supports 14 and thereof. An angularly disposed brace 51 extends between the upright 49 and support 15 to further rigidify the support for the winch mechanism 48. As respects the present invention, the winch mechanism 48 may be completely conventional. and it includes a drum 52 supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. a cable 54 attached at one end to the drum 52 and partially wound thercabout. a handle 55 arranged with the drum 52 through a conventional gear drive so as to rotate the drum selectively in opposite directions. and the usual ratchet arrangement (not evident in the drawing) to enable the drum to be rotated. selectively. in

one or the other of the possible angular directions so as to elevate or lower. as the case may be. the platform components secured to the cable 5-1. An example of a 5 typical winch mechanism is Safety-Brake Winch.

Model No. 560. sold by The Fulton Company of Milwaukee. Wisconsin.

As respects selectivity, the cable 54 is entrained about an idler roller 56 supported upon a bar or shaft 57 for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof. The shaft 57 is transversely disposed and extends between the uprights 18,20 and 19,21 of the standard 17, as is most evident in FIGS. 1 and 3. At its free end. the cable 54 is equipped with a hook 58 that enables the cable to 5 be rcleasably attached to one or the other. selectively.

of the platform components and 26 by means ofcy cmembers 59 and 60 respectively secured to the transverse beams 32 and 35 of the platform components via brake mechanism respectively associated with such beams 32 and 35, as described hereinafter.

It will be evident. then. that the winch mechanism 48 may be selectively connected to either the platform component 25 or platform component 26 so as to raise and lower the same for the purpose of placing tclvision 35 receivers and the like upon an elevated shelf 45 or for removing such receiver therefrom. it is also apparent that the winch mechanism. in the form shown. is manu ally manipulatable by means of the crank 55. but a power driven winch can be used should this be desired. and electrically operated winch mechanisms for this purpose are standard items that can be purchased from various commercial sources. lt is further evident that the winch mechanism 48 is effectively operable between the base 10 and particular platform component ot which the cable 54 is connencted. and in this referencc. the winch mechanism may be supported directly upon the base 10 as in the embodiment ofthe invention being considered (through the standard 49). or it may be supported on the base indirectly via the standard 17 which. as previously explained. is itself supported by the base. The hook 58 and eyes 59 and 60 are conventional components and require no further elaboration since they are well known.

The platform components 25 and 26. and. more par ticularly. the columns. 27 through thereof. are connected with and interrelated to the respective uprights 18 through 21 by guide structure that establishes the position of the platform components with reference to the standard 17 and also facilitates reciprocable dis placements of the platform components relative thereto. In the form shown. the guide structure includes a plurality of roller assemblies carried by the columns 27 through 30 and rollingly engaging the respectively associated uprights 18 through 21 so as to accommodate their requisite rclative reciprocable displacements in generally vertical directions but contraining the columns against transverse and lateral displacements in all directions with respect to the uprights. The roller assemblies are arranged so that each column carries three pairs of rollers arranged in two vertically spaced groups. the upper group of which includes two pairs of rollers and the lower group one pair of rollers. This arrangement is most evident in F165. 1 and 2. and for purposes of identification. the upper and lower groups carried by the column 27 are respectively denoted with the numerals 61 and 62. the corresponding groups as sociatcd with the column 28 are respectively denoted with the numerals 64 and 65, and the upper group asso ciated with the column is denoted with the numeral 66 (the lower group and the assemblies associated with the column 29 not being shown in the drawings).

As respects the cooperative interrelationship of the various rollers and the columns and uprights respectively associated therewith. referenced to FIG. 4 will be especially helpful. In the first instance. it may be noted that both the columns and uprights have generally U- shaped configurations and are strong. sturdy compo nents fabricated from steel. for example. Accordingly. the columns and uprights may be respectively core nected to the supports associated therewith by any coir vcntional means including welding. This is evidenced. as previously explained. by the uprights l8 and 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 which are disposed in back-to-baek relation and are welded one to another along their vertically extending longitudinal edges. Although each of the columns and uprights has a generally U-shaped configuration. the sidewalls thereof-are turned inwardly toward each other to provide relatively narrow flanges which. in turn. are turned toward the open interiors of the members so as to be disposed in substantially parallel relation with the sidewalls but having a much smaller lateral dimension. This specific configuration is shown in FIG. 4 in association with the upright 18 and column 27; and for specific identification, and flanges and lips of the column 27 are respectively denoted with the numerals 68,69 and 70,71 and those of the upright I8 are respectively designated with the numerals 72,73 and 74,75. It will be appreciated that the respectively paired lips and 71, for example) are spaced apart so as to define therebetween a longitudinal opening or space 76 that extends substantially from one end of the component to the other thereof; and similarly. the lips 74 and 75 define a space 77 therebetween.

The respectively associated uprights and columns are oriented in the same direction, wherefore the upright 18 and column 27 have their lips 70,71 and 74,75 facing in the same lateral direction and. analogously. the uprights 19,20 and 21 have their lips facing in the same lateral direction as the respectively associated lips of the columns 28, 29 and 30 although the uprights and columns 20,29 and 21,30 are opposite in orientation to that of the uprights and columns 18,27 and 19,28 (see FIG. 3]. Such relative orientation of the respectively associated uprights and columns facilitates the functional interrelationship of the guide roller assemblies therewith.

More particularly in this respect. each pair of guide rollers is supported by the associated column for rotation about a generally horizontal axis disposed within the hollow interior of the cooperative upright. Thus. and referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the upper pair of rollers of the group 64 includes rollers 78 and 79 carried by a shaft or axle 80 for rotation about the axis thereof. The axle 80 is journaled or otherwise supported (depending upon whether the rollers 78 and 79 rotate about the axle or whether the axle itself rotates with the rollers) in transversely spaced support plates 8] and 82 that are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a mounting plate 84 bolted (as shown) or otherwise mounted upon the column 27 so as to inhibit movement with respect thereto. The plate 84 and components 81 and 82 are dimensioned and positioned so as to be received between the lips 74 and 75 ofthe upright 18, and the axle 80 is located so that the rollers 78 and 79 are freely rotatable without inhibition from the lips. In many instances. it is advantageous to positionally locate the rollers 78 and 79 with respect to the plate members 8] and 82, and this can be accomplished advantageously by means of spacers 85 and 86 circumjacent the axle 80 and interposed. respectively between the roller and support plate combinations 78,8I and 79,82.

The rollers 78 and 79 are respectively disposed along the lips 74 and 75 and intermediate such lips and the sidewalls of the upright 19. Further. the rollers have a sufficiently large diameter that they are received rather snugly between the front and rear walls of the upright 18, although some spacing therebetween is required to permit the rollers to rotate freely as the column 27 reciprocates along the length of the upright 18. As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two pairs of rollers conr prising the group 61 are disposed in close proximity in a vertical sense. and may be supported on the common plate assembly 81,82 and 84. The lower group 62 comprising one pair of rollers is most advantageously supported on a separate mounting arrangement comprising a substantially similar plate composition. It may be stated, then, that all of the paired rollers and groups thereof are substantially identical both in terms of structure and function and need not be further described.

Referring to FIG. 2. it will be evident that when an article is supported by the platform component upon the transversely spaced brackets thereof a torque or bending moment is developed between the platform component and standard, and that such moment is deyeloped about and is resisted by the various groups of roller assemblies. In FIG. 2, the weight imposed by the television receiver 40 upon the brackets 36 and 37 of the platform component 25 tends to rotate the latter in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the stair dard I7 and. particularly. the uprights l8 and 19 thereof. As a consequence. the upper groups of rollers 61 and 64 tend to press outwardly against the respectively associated flanges (e.g.. 72,73 in FIG. 4) of the uprights I8 and 19 whereas the roller groups 62 and 65 of rollers press inwardly toward the closed rear wall of the uprights. In any event. the angular force imposed upon the platform component as a consequence of the weight of the article supported upon the brackets thereof is effectively resisted by the various groups of rollers which, at the same time. permit the platform component to be displaced in vertical directions rela tive to the standard 17.

The aforementioned safety brake mechanism by means of which the winch cable 54 is connected with the platform structure 25 (or by means of which it is connected to the platform structure 26) will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 5. Each platform structure is provided with a safety brake mechanism. as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, and for purposes of specific identification, such mechanisms are respectively denoted with the numerals 87 and 88, the mechanism 88 being specifically shown in FIG. 5. It will be understood. however. that the safety brake mechanisms 87 and 88 are substantially identical both in structure and function. and they face in opposite directions in correspondence with the platform structures 25 and 26 with which they are respectively associated. Thus. the specific description of the mechanism 88 will be understood to apply equally to the mechanism 87.

components of the latter being specifically identified by numerical designation only where believed helpful to the understanding of this mechanism.

As previously noted. the transversely disposed bar 35 is rigidly secured to the respectively associated columns 29 and 30 so that relative movement therebetween is totally obviated. intermediate its ends and at substantially the center thereof, the bar 35 is equipped with a generally L-shaped bracket 89 having an up wardly extending leg 90 that is in contiguous juxtaposition with the member 35 and may be welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto. The bracket 89 has a generally horizontal leg 91 that projects beneath the member 35 and laterally therefrom. The bracket leg 91 has a central opening therein through which projects an elongated hanger post 92 having at its upper end the aforementioned eye 60 and at its lower end being equipped with a washer 94 and locknuts 95. A helical compression spring 96 seating at its lower end upon the washer 94 and bearing at its upper end against the downwardly facing surface of the bracket leg 94. Evidently. then, the spring 96 resiliently biases the hanger post 92 downwardly relative to the bracket 89 and bar 35, and the extent to which the spring can be preloaded is determined by the position of the locknuts 95 along the threaded lower end of the post.

The eye 60 and upper end portion of the hanger post 92 are welded to a link 97 in the form of a flat, generally rcctangular bar having a substantially horizontal disposition and projecting from opposite sides of the ring 60 and post 92 for substantially equal distances. The link 97 is provided with a pair of elongated slots 98 and 99 having connector pins 100 and 101 extending therethrough that pivotally interconnect the inner end portions of brake arms 102 and 103 to the link. The brake arms 102 and 103 are respectively connected intermediate the ends thereof to the support bar 35 by pivot pins 104 and 105 extending thercthrough. Adjacent their outer ends. the brake arms are respectively equipped with friction pads 106 and 107 that are pivot ally secured thereto by pins 108 and 109, respectively.

Ordinarily. the compression spring 96 develops a biasing force between the bracket-support bar structure 91,35 and washer-nut post structure 94, 95, 92 effective to displace the post downwardly and, therefore. the link 97 to which the post is fixedly attached. As a consequence. the connector pins 100 and 101 are displaced downwardly with the link 97, whereupon the brake arms 102 and 103 are angularly displaced in opposite directions about their respectively associated pivot pins 104 and 105 toward the broke-line position of FIG. in which the friction pads 106 and 107 are urged against the uprights and 21 aligned therewith. It will be observed that the brake arms 102 and 103 angle downwardly and outwardly relative to the standard l7 [i.e., the uprights 20 and 21) so that a wedging action occurs in which the friction pads 106 and 107 are urged into progressively tighter frictional engagement with the uprights 20 and 21 as the magnitude of any downwardly directed force upon the platform structure and support bar increases. Thus. there is substantially no tendency for the safety brake mechanism to flip because any downward displacement of the platform structure and support bar 35 relative to the standard 17 results in the friction pads being wedged more tightly against the uprights 20 and 21.

Whenever an upwardly directed force is applied to the eye 60 and post 92 via the winch cable 54. such force overcomes the magnitude of the biasing force ap plied by the spring 96 and thereby displaces the link 97 upwardly whereupon the brake arms 102 and 103 are angularly displaced about the pivot pins 104 and 105 into the full line positions shown in FIG. 5. As a result. the friction pads 106 and 107 are withdrawn slightly from the uprights 20 and 21. thereby conditioning the brake mechanism for inaction. A force analysis est-ab lishes that a part of the upwardly directed force present in the cable 54 is transferred to the support bar 35 via the link 97, connectors and 101, brake arms 102 and 103, and pivot pins 104 and 105. Another part of such force is transferred to the support bar 35 via the link 97. post 92, nuts 95, washer 94, spring 96, and bracket 91. Accordingly, any initial tensioning of the cable 54 is cushioned in its application to the support bar 35 by the spring 96, and as soon as the link 97 and brake arms 102 and 103 have been displaced upwardly to seat the connectors 100 and 101 against the outer edges of the slots 98 and 99, a significant component of the force in the cable 54 is transferred directly through such brake arms to the support bar. as previously explained. It will be apparent that the connectors 100 and 101 are freely movable along the slots 98 and 99 respectively associated therewith. and that such slots accommodate angular displacements of the brake arms relative to the link 97.

The biasing force of the spring 96 can be adjusted by changing the position of the locknuts 95. and the spring force is selected so that it is adequate to urge the friction pads 106 and 107 into engagement with the uprights of the standards 17 whenever no tensile force is present in the cable 54. Further. the force of the spring 96 is also selected so that it is readily overcome by any tensile force applied to the cable 54 of sufficient magnitude to support the weight of the articles intended to be handled on the platforms 25 and 26 of the apparatus. Should the cable 54 break. the winch mechanism 48 malfunction, or some other event occur which suddenly reduces the magnitude of the upwardly directed force applied to the eye 60, the spring 96 immediately displaces the brake arms and friction pads into their outer active or braking positions. whereupon the wedging action described causes the magnitude of the braking force developed between the friction pads and respectively associated standards 20 and 21 to increase to the value necessary to constrain the support bar 35 and associated platform structure against downward displacement relative to the standard 17.

ln use of the portable elevator apparatus, various purposes can be accommodated thereby. For example. it may be used solely as a means for transporting one or more articles from one location to another in which event such article or articles are supported by the platform components and brackets thereof and the apparatus then manually pushed or pulled to the location desired. Considering use of the apparatus for interchanging one television receiver for another for exemplary purposes, the condition may be assumed in which the television receiver 40 is supported upon the shelf 45 and is to be replaced by the receiver 41 which is supported upon the brackets 38 and 39. The latter receiver may have been placed upon the brackets 38 and 39 at a supply room or other central location at which the receivers are assembled for distribution. and then transported to the room or location having the shelf 45 and receiver 40 thereatv After the apparatus has been moved or transported to the room space at which the receiver 40 is located the book 58 on the end of the cable 54 is attachcdto the eye 59 carried by the beam 32 of the platform component 25 which, at that time, will be in a lowermost position as suggested by the broken-line position of the bracket 37 in FIGv 2. The winch mechanism 48 is then manipulated by means of the crank or handle 55 so as to elevate the brackets 36 and 37 to a position at which they are in substantial horizontal alignment with the shelf 45 but are slightly lower than the upper surface thereof so that they can straddle the shelf but slip under the receiver 40. The apparatus is then positioned in front of the shelf so that the platform component 25 is facing the wall 46 and the brackets 36 and 37 are disposed so that they can straddle the shelf 45, whereupon the apparatus is displaced toward the wall so as to dispose the brackets 36 and 37 beneath the television receiver 40. The winch mechanism 48 is then further manipulated so as to elevate the brackets 36 and 37 to lift the receiver 40 from the shelf 45, whereupon the apparatus is then displaced bodily in a direction away from the wall 46 to free the receiver 40 from the shelf. The winch mechanism 48 is then manipulated in the opposite direction to lower the platform component 25 into the lowermost position thereofin which the columns 27 and 28 seat against the rails ll and 12 of the base 10. The hook 58 is then released from the eye member 59 and is interconnected with the eye member 60 of the platform component 26.

The apparatus is then rotated bodily through an angular distance of approximately 180 so as to bring the platform component 26 into facing relation with the wall 46. The winch mechanism 48 is then manipulated so as to elevate the platform component 26 to a position at which the television receiver 41 is slightly above the shelf 45. The brackets 38 and 39 are then aligned with respect to the shelf 45 so as to straddle the same, and the apparatus is then moved or displaced toward the wall 46 to locate the receiver 4! above the shelf 45. The winch mechanism 48 is then manipulated in the opposite direction so as to lower the receiver 41 onto the shelf 45 and to release the brackets 38 and 39 from the receiver 41 and, usually, to return the platform component 26 to the lowermost position thereof. The apparatus with the television receiver 40 supported on the brackets 36 and 37 can then be returned to the supply station or otherwise moved to another location at which the receiver 40 is to be removed from the platform component 25.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof. it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Portable elevator apparatus for moving relatively heavy articles such as television receivers and the like from one location to another and for placing the same upon and removing the same from an elevated support therefor at any such location. comprising: a rollerequipped base adapted to be moved manually from one location to another; a standard carried by said base at a generally central position therealong and extending upwardly therefrom; a pair of cocqual platform compositions respectively supported by said standard in oppositely facing orientations along opposite sides thereof for reciprocable displacements therealong between lowermost positions generally adjacent said base and elevated positions spaced upwardly therefrom. each of said platforms further including quide structure for reciprocable displacements of said platforms between the lowermost and elevated positions thereof; and mechanism effectively operative between said base and platforms. for selectively displacing either of the latter upwardly from the lowermost position thereof into any selected elevated positions for placement of such article upon and removal thereof from such support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said standard comprises a pair of transversely spaced uprights, and in which each of said platforms includes a pair of transversely spaced columns respectively associated therewith, and where said guide structure interconnects each column and the upright associated therewith for reciprocable displacements of said platfroms between the lowermost and elevated positions thereof as aforesaid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which each of said uprights is a channel having a generally U-shaped configuration in cross section, and in which said guide structure includes a plurality of rollers carried by each of said columns and rollingly engaging the associated standard to provide the aforesaid reciprocable dis placements of said platforms.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising safety brake mechanism carried by each of said platform compositions and selectively operative between active braking and inactive release positions and effec tive in the former to develop a frictional force against said standard resisting downward displacement of said platform compositions relative thereto.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which each said safety brake mechanism includes a support fixedly related to its associated platform composition. a brake arm pivotally secured intermediate the ends thereof to said support and equipped adjacent one end with a friction pad selectively engageable with said standard to develop a frictional force thereagainst, spring means biasing said brake arm toward the active braking position thereof. and means connected with the aforesaid mechanism effectively operative between said base and platform to displace said brake arm against the force of said spring biasing means whenever movement of said platform composition is controlled by such mechanism to release said safety brake mechanism.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said mechanism effectively operative between said base and platforms includes winch means having a cable selectively connectable with the aforesaid means of said safety brake mechanisms to define in part the effective operation of said mechanism between said base and platform compositions and to enable the latter to be displaced as aforesaid.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said standard comprises a pair of transversely spaced uprights; in which each of said platforms includes a pair of transversely spaced columns generally disposed in alignment with said uprights along opposite sides thereof and a pair of transversely spaced brackets defining a relatively large support-receiving space thercbetween. said llI 12 a channel having a generally L -shapcd configuration in cross section; and in which said guide structure in cludes a plurality of rollers carried by each of said columns and rollingly engaging the associated standard to provide the aforesaid reciproeahle displacements of said platforms. 

1. Portable elevator apparatus for moving relatively heavy articles such as television receivers and the like from one location to another and for placing the same upon and removing the same from an elevated support therefor at any such location, comprising: a roller-equipped base adapted to be moved manually from one location to another; a standard carried by said base at a generally central position therealong and extending upwardly therefrom; a pair of coequal platform compositions respectively supported by said standard in oppositely facing orientations along opposite sides thereof for reciprocable displacements therealong between lowermost positions generally adjacent said base and elevated positions spaced upwardly therefrom, each of said platforms further including quide structure for reciprocable displacements of said platforms between the lowermost and elevated positions thereof; and mechanism effectively operative between said base and platforms, for selectively displacing either of the latter upwardly from the lowermost position thereof into any selected elevated positions for placement of such article upon and removal thereof from such support.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said standard comprises a pair of transversely spaced uprights, and in which each of said platforms includes a pair of transversely spaced columns respectively associated therewith, and where said guide structure interconnects each column and the upright associated therewith for reciprocable displacements of said platfroms between the lowermost and elevated positions thereof as aforesaid.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which each of said uprights is a channel having a generally U-shaped configuration in cross section, and in which said guide structure includes a plurality of rollers carried by each of said columns and rollingly engaging the associated standard to provide the aforesaid reciprocable displacements of said platforms.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising safety brake mechanism carried by each of said platform compositions and selectively operative between active braking and inactive release positions and effective in the former to develop a frictional force against said standard resisting downward displacement of said platform compositions relative thereto.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which each said safety brake mechanism includes a support fixedly related to its associated platform composition, a brake arm pivotally secured intermediate the ends thereof to said support and equipped adjacent one end with a friction pad selectively engageable with said standard to develop a frictional force thereagainst, spring means biasing said brake arm toward the active braking position thereof, and means connected with the aforesaid mechanism effectively operative between said base and platform to displace said brakE arm against the force of said spring biasing means whenever movement of said platform composition is controlled by such mechanism to release said safety brake mechanism.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said mechanism effectively operative between said base and platforms includes winch means having a cable selectively connectable with the aforesaid means of said safety brake mechanisms to define in part the effective operation of said mechanism between said base and platform compositions and to enable the latter to be displaced as aforesaid.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said standard comprises a pair of transversely spaced uprights; in which each of said platforms includes a pair of transversely spaced columns generally disposed in alignment with said uprights along opposite sides thereof and a pair of transversely spaced brackets defining a relatively large support-receiving space therebetween, said brackets comprising each pair of platforms being secured to and extending outwardly from the pair of columns respectively associated therewith, and each of said platforms further including guide structure interconnecting each column and the upright associated therewith for reciprocable displacements of said platforms between the lowermost and elevated positions thereof as aforesaid; in which each of said uprights is a channel having a generally U-shaped configuration in cross section; and in which said guide structure includes a plurality of rollers carried by each of said columns and rollingly engaging the associated standard to provide the aforesaid reciprocable displacements of said platforms. 